Beet topping machine



March 13, 1951 o, BLOCK ETAL 2,544,650

BEET TOPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 00 ooaoo INVENTOR. 0170- H. BLOCK.

NETTIE, 4. 540cm March 13, 1951 0.. H. BLOCK ETAL 2,544,650

BEET TOPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 3, 1948 INVENTOR. OTTO H- BLOCK.

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March 13, 1951 o. H. BLOCK ETAL 2,544,650

BEET TOPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 194B 4 Sheets-Sheet s JNVENTOR. O 770 H. BLOCK,

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March 13, 1951 o. H. BLOCK ETAL BEET TOPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 3, 1948 ooooooov ooeooooooooooooou INVENTOR. 0770 H. BLOCK,

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l atented Mar. 13,. T

BEET TOPPING MACHINE Otto H. Block and Nettie A. Block,

Fort Collins, 0010.

Application February a, 1948, Serial No. 5,996

This invention relates to improvements in beet topping machines and more particularly to an improved machine for removing the leafy tops of sugar beets and similar plants preparatory to removing the beets from the ground, and for piling the tops of several rows of beets in a windrow from which they may be gathered for use as stock feed or other purposes.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved beet topping machine which can be adjusted to compensate for furrows or ditches of different depth between the beet rows, which is operative to top the beets in two 'or more rows at the same time and to pile the tops from a large number of beet rows in a'single windrow, which may be either self-powered or driven from the power take-ofi of a towing tractor, and which is simple, durable and economical in construction and easy to adjust and operate.

'A somewhat more specific object resides in the provision of an improved beet topping machine including a topping unit operative to cut the tops from at least two rows of beets at one time, an elevator unit pivotally connected to the topping unit to be pulled thereby and operative to place the tops from a number of rows of beets in 'a single windrow, and a comomn driving means-for the topping and elevator units.

' Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

" Figure 1 is a side elevation of a beet topping machine illustrative of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine illustrated in Figure 1. 1

Figure 3 is an elevation of an extensible driving connection between the topping unit and the elevator unit of the improved beet topping ma-' chine.

1 Figure 4 is a top .plan view of the extensible driving connection illustrated in Figure 3.

, Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-section taken substantially in the plane on the section line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-section of the topping unit taken substantially-in the plane of section line 66 of Figure 2. f V

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the frame of the topping unit and elevatorunit.

Figure 8 is a transverse cross-section of the elevator chute. of the J elevator unit taken sub stantially in the plane of the section line' 8-8 of Figure2. l

Figure 9 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale 1 Claim. (01. 56-153) r r 2 showing a structural detail of the machine and taken substantially in the plane of the section line 9'.9 of Figure 2. Figure 10 .is a cross-section on an enlarged scale showing a structural detail of the top gathering reel of the machine.

Figure 11 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale showing a structural detail of the cutting blade of the machine; and

Figure 12 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale also showing a structural detail of the cutting blade and when viewed from a position substantially at degrees to the position from which the blade structure is viewed in Figure 11.

With continued reference to the drawings, the improved beet topping machine comprises a topping unit, generally indicated at A, and an elevator unit, generally indicated at B.

Referring now to Figure 7, the topping unit A has a frame including an elongated axle ID from the intermediate portion of which a pair of spaced, parallel bars II and I2 extend. forwardly to carry the top cutting mechanism at the forward ends thereof. A third bar I3 extends forwardly from one end of the axle I0 and is substantially parallel to the bars II and I2 and spaced from the bar I I. Suitable rubber tired-wheels I4 are journaled, one on each end of the axle, and a towing hitch socket I5 is secured totheaxle substantially at the mid-length position thereof, and extends rearwardly therefrom.

A brace It extends diagonally across the space between bars I2 and II from the axle shaft end of bar I2 below' theintermediate portion of bar I I and has an angularly disposed portion I! extending along the side of bar II remote from bar I2 and attached thereto by suitable bolts or rivets and held in spaced relation to bar II by spacers I8. A pair of U-shaped braces I9 and 20, having their intermediate or bight portions connected together, are connected at their ends to the portion I! of brace I6 and to the inner side of bar I3 constituting, in effect, a re-inforcing X-frame structure between bars II and I3. A transverse frame member 2|, substantially parallel to axle I0, is attached to bars II and I2 at points intermediate their length and to the end of bar I3 remote from axle I0 and is provided between bars II and I3 with a series of spaced-apart apertures 22 for the attachment of the draw bar 23 and adjustable draw bar brace 24 which extends diagonally from the outer end of the draw bar'to the' apertured portion of brace 2I and is formed in two overlapping parts having registerable apertures 25 by means of which the length of brace 24 may be adjusted.

A pair of brackets 26 are secured one to the outer side of bar 12 and one to the outer side of bar l3 opposite the respective ends of transverse brace 2| and wheel struts 21 are journalled at their upper ends in these brackets. The lower ends of brackets 21 are preferably bifurcated to provide forks within which respective front wheels 28 are"'journalled. The bifurcatdiflower end portions of the struts are disposed at an angle to the portions of the struts journalled in brackets 26 so that the wheels 28 havea castor effect when the frame is moved longitudinally over the ground by a towing device, connectedzto the draw bar 23. l

As is also clearly illustrated in Figurejl the frame of the elevator unit has -atrans'v"erse*rear axle 30 upon the opposite ends of whichlare rd. sition frelative tofeachpther. :The horizontal bar Y (is also, provided with a' 'seriesiof longitudinal} din spaced-apart apertures'flfl for afpurp se'iiwhich 1 pre t pp a r. a

magi -new to Figures 1 a d izfitiwiu be 'no'tedth'at the portions of bars] I and '12 ahead of the brackets"? 6 are inclined upwardly 1 and o war l i T fip 'ne1knif i iis's o b' and l' mmdiet b' ah ad, br'acket fii by suitable depending arms421 which arerigidlysecuredj one' to each end, ofthe nife, or" formed"- integrallytherewith,"' and" connected adjacent their upperends tojhebars -by suitable? fastening elements such asithe screws shown in- Figure "11; the-flower screwflsf-extends through "one-" of a" :series-F off-spacedfapart apertures 44 in the-farm 4 2- *illustrated {therein and the upper screw 43 extends throughfoneiof aseries of spaced-apart elongated slots 45 which extend transversely ofthe'a'rm. {The series of apertures and slots 'p'rovides"means'whreby the blade may be adjusted vertically "relative'td'the arms H and I2 and the slots "45 provide-means whereby the "knife "may be'tiltedforwardlynor backwardly, asgindicated infull anddottedjlines in Figure 1 1, so that the cutting edge-of theknife can be adjusted for the depth: of the furrows or. irrigation ditches in which thawheels travel and positioned closely adjacentth e surface gof the ground over v which the" topping machine t v lsa t -c The front ends of the'bars I Land'IZ are apertured to receive pivot pins" '4fip'pivotally supporting the' lower ends of a pairof upstanding flinks 41 the upper ends ofiwhich gare" apertured" and provided with bearings in' which a reelshaft'flltl is journalled. Links 41 are maintained in up right position by respective adjustable length struts 49 the forward ends of which are pivotally connected to the links intermediate the length thereof and the rear ends of which are pivotally connected to the sides of a chute, generally indicated at 50, supported on the frame of the topping unit. M A. reel, generaliy indicated ,at 5,1 is mounted 'i oniithe? shaftfflb iand may fc'onveriiently comprise a pair of end discs 52 having hubs 53 secured 130 the centers thereof and receiving the shaft jl fl an d a plurality of slats 54 extending between *theend discs and arranged diagonally or spirally .relatiye touthe central shaft 48. .;As illustrated in Figure 10, each slat or blade 54 may comprise a wood or metal strip of apfifi pfya resilient material, such as rubber, is see cured by suitable fastening elements, such as the bolts Q. Reeljl -isof such a diameter and is 'ou'j' ajtii e" to the"cutting 'bladefil as obsTac ft .cutt dee a 4 the blad w u everthe ops from 'tne beet es' the "machine'fisfirawn fthe-ji ows joffb'ets. i Kni'fdd ..,has"-a"1ens h' Vcient";- to eiite'nd abross jati least two adjacent rows of beets and "reel" 5 I 1 has; ajlen'gthsubstant al y tbe same-e that ofkn fe'ifll- 1i B 'ime ffihei efli'v e' f' h fl ts i ;th i ma be mpved forwardly'jor efali c. 21 ?lilatiyitojthe r knife to' accommodate theflmaichine to. beet, Jtops 'of diffe1fent" siz e. l i

cistern; i prir a i mar tr ss-semen" a to pris s a pair. j rii pacedi-apartg substantially V 1 base sidefwallsl'maybefcon- "veniently supported frame member 2lf while the rear-en s are supportedfon a' ui shiaped Se-pear 59ttthe flegsj of {wriichareconne teseajae i t their lower 'e dsto e bars] I and12=aaracentfth rear 'endsithereof and the bightf'or intermediate portion inf-of which transversely across fthe bars "I I and abov ithe' same'"a difslipportsithe rear sdss rthi ie ue d -w 5 pairof belt roll ersfi Fare rotatably rnount'ed between the side wallsff5 one at each iend'fof 'the chuteand anfeiidless'; flexible, conveyorfbelt-"M i jcarriedfiby these p llers 1 and constitutesthe bottom of the chute. This "blt' 1 has transverse lat F3 a rme -a lo u i tera nt rvals to receive the "beet tops frlorn theireel 5i and move them from the front" to' the' rear 'end' of theftop iaing unit A. y p A platform 64 is supportedonthe bars 'I 1' Land l 31; adjacent" the} axle? I O f'and' a fsuitablej power plant suchfas aj gasoline engine, is*mounted on thishlatform.

.The rear beltrollertl has a shaft fifiextei'iding axiai'lly'tl'ieret hroughjand journalled in" thebh'ute side members Sf-which? shaft 'extendsj'outwardly beyondi-the corresponding side'members fat =both ends thereof. A beit pimeytris'mcunteq on'ithe end of shaft 66 adjacent the engine .65 and'conseat d-1 beltf 6 8' with V at: belt pulley 69 ionthe driveshaft of" the engine, Rotation" of fshaft'tt by the engine will opratefth'e conveyor'bel'tfl'fin an obviohs "inanner ithe topj flportionfiof fthejbelt u g rearw rcilyjorthe'tobpihg"unie'rmm' the Shaft 48 hatthe reel. 51: w the driv simultaneously with the conveyor belt 62. On smaller. size units a suitable gear box may. be substituted f r th engine or other power plant 65 which. gear box may be operatively connected with the power take-off offthe towing tractor bya suitable flexible or eXtensible-shaft'in' a manner'well-knownj tothe art...

A pair of; diverging guard boards 13 are con nected to the forward ends; of the chute. side members 57 toguide the'beet'topsto the reel and knife so that they will be severed and directed by the reel onto the belt 62.

The knife 4| as is particularly illustrated in Figure 2, is inclined at a slight angle to the perpendicular with respect to the bars II and I2 of the topping unit frame to improve its operation in severing the beet tops as it is drawn into contact with them.

The elevator unit B has a chute, generally indicated at M, of rectangular cross-section which includes a pair of spaced-apart, substantially parallel side Walls 15, the bottom edges of which are connected by spaced-apart transverse slats or braces 16. A supporting beam I1 is secured beneath the forward end of chute 14, substantially medially of the width thereof and extends forwardly of the chute with its front end disposed at an angle to the remainder thereof and pivotally connected to the top of towing bracket l5 so that the rear end of the chute may swing transversely of the elevator unit frame in an are centered on the pivotal connection 18 between beam I! and bracket l5. Near its rear end the chute is supported on the transverse, normally horizontal bar 31 of the elevator unit frame and is shiftable lengthwise of this bar when swung about the pivotal connection 18.

A belt roller 19 is journalled in the chute side walls at the forward ends thereof and near the bottom of the chute and a complementary roller 89 is journalled in these walls at the rear ends thereof and also near the bottom edges.

An endless conveyor belt 8| is carried by the rollers 19 and 80 for moving beet top from the belt 62 up the elevator chute 14 for discharge a the rear end thereof.

Two belt rollers 82 and 83 are also journaled in the side wall 15 of the chute above the rollers 19 and 80 and carry an upper belt 84 which is substantially parallel to and spaced above the belt 8| to assist the belt 8| in carrying the beet tops to the upper, rear end of the chute.

A shaft 85 extends axially through the back roller 19 and projects at one end outside of the corresponding chute side wall 15 where it is provided with a bevelled gear 86. The shaft 66 is provided at the corresponding end with a bevelled gear 8'! and the bevelled gears 86 and 81 are drivingly connected by an extensible drive unit generally indicated at 88 and particularly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The projecting end portions of shafts 85 and 66 are journaled in angle brackets 89 and 89 which also journal the hubs of bevelled pinions 99 and 9| which mesh respectively with the gears 86 and 81. An internally grooved shaft 92 is connected to the hub of pinion 90 by a universal joint 93 and an externally splined shaft, telescopically received in tubular shaft 92, is connected to the hub of pinion 9| by a universal joint 95. The shafts 92 and 94 provide a driving connection between pinions 90 and 9| while permitting the pinions to move toward and away from each other and to assume different angular msit ene rel ive ta each ether. The-emirates ri ni lie shaftand he; ha t. .5; th s permits h eva to s in bou he-pivota towms. c nne tion etweenlthe: reach and bra ket wi heut nt rr p in the dr ve to. ower eleva or unit be1t. 8-l-. v

A shaft 9.6, e tend axially: throu ro le carryingthe lower belt at the rear end of chute l4, has abelt pulley 91 secured on an end thereof projecting beyond one of the side walls 15 of the chute 1:43, A shaft. 98 extends axially hr ugh. the. pp r. b t o 1e 8 at. the rear end of the chute and carries upon'pne endiextendi g through the corresponding side wall 15 a belt" pulley 99 which is in alignment with the belt pulley 91. A belt I89 connects the pulleys 91 and V 99 so that the upper belt 84 is driven whenever the lower belt 8| is driven.

With the above described arrangement, when the engine 65 is in operation and drives the belt 68, the reel 5|, the topping unit belt 62, and both the belts 8| and 64 of the elevator unit will be driven. With these components in operation, if the machine is towed along the beet rows the tops will be severed by the blade 4|, lifted onto belt 62 by a reel 5|, transferred by belt 62 to belt 8| of the elevator unit and raised by belts 8| and 84 to the rear upper end of the elevator unit from which they will be discharged.

The pivotal mounting on the front end of the elevator unit chute permits positioning the rear end of the chute so that beet tops from several adjacent rows can be dropped into a single windrow extending in the same direction as the beet rows.

The elevator unit chute 14 is releasably held in position lengthwise of the horizontal bar 31 by a hook ||H one end of which engages in a selected aperture 46 in the horizontal bar and the other end of which is connected to a staple I92 which is slidably mounted on a rod I03 which extends longitudinally of the chute adjacent the bottom edge thereof and is supported at its ends in angle brackets I04 secured to the corresponding side wall of the chute. The slidable mounting of the staple I82 on the rod I03 compensates for the difference between the arcuate path of travel of the rear portion of the chute and the straight transverse bar 31 so that the hook may be brought into engagement in an aperture 49 regardless of the position of the chute lengthwise of the bar.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claim are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

A beet topping machine comprising a frame, wheels supporting said frame, a topping knife disposed transversely of and below said frame, a bracket interconnected between each end of said knife and said frame, said brackets providing adjustment of said knife toward and away from said frame and tilting adjustment of said knife relative to said frame, a reel journaled on said frame above and ahead of said knife, an elevator on said frame rearwardly and upwardly inclined from a location adjacent said knife to receive severed beet tops and move such tops rearwardly and upwardly, and a draw bar adjustably attached to REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record" in the file of this patent:

. 8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Appleby Nov. 19, 1912 Apel July 11, 1933 MacGregor July 28, 1936 Coon Mar. 7, 19'44 Oehler et al Aug. 1, 1944 Smith Feb. 19, 1946 Briggs Nov. 11, 1947- Trinkle Feb. 10, 1948 

